Conveyer system for restaurants



2 Shets-Sheet 1 J z SLYNGSTALI CONVEYER SYSTEM FOR RETAURANTS Aug. 25, 1953 'lled Sept 27 1949 all! e fl Inventor Jan mum slyngsfali Aug. 25, 1953 J. 'z. SLYNGSTALI CONVEYER SYSTEM FOR RESTAURANTS- Filed Sept. 27, 1949 In ventor Jan flynk'nd slyngsrbli- Patented Aug. 25,1953

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1. 1 2,649,931 I CONVEYER SYSTEM FOR RESTAURANTS: V on Slyngstali, Aalesund, Norway Application September 27, 19.49, Serial No. 118.106

. 1 This-invention relates to novel and useful mprovements'in conveyor systems for restaurants. An object of this invention is to supply the patrons of the restaurant with their respective orders and collect the soiled tableware in a chute which communicates with the lower portion or part of the conveyor, the soiled tableware being urged on the chute by the force involved in the movement of the conveyor.

Another object of this invention is to constantly clean the conveyor belt as it operates by passing the conveyor belt through a liquid receptacle hav- 7 ing an abrading member therein.

Another object of this invention is to p y serving persons at a counter or table by having the orders ride on a conveyor belt directly to the patron or to an attendant who places them on the table and then collects the soiled tableware by having the attendant place it on the lower p of the same conveyor so that it may be automatically collected by the chute which is Substantially coplanar with respect to a large part of the lower portion of the conveyor, which in the illustrated instance is a belt.

Other objects and features will become apparent in following the description of the p ferred form of the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a typical restaurant system having an article of the invention operatively connected therewith;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 in Figure 2 and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 and in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2 and in the direction of the arrows.

The tables or counters l0 and I2 illustrated in Figure 1 are conventional in character and the stools 14 are illustrative of elements on which patrons of the restaurant may seat. Arranged behind the tables Ill and I2 is a stove l6, suggesting a convenient location therefor.

Referring now to Figure 2, standards 20, ,22, 24 and 26 are disposed behind the counters or tables I!) and I2. A larger number of counters and sup-v ports or a smaller'number'of counters and supports may be employed, this being within the pre- 1 Claim. (Cl. 186-1) rogative of the engineer designing for a partic ular establishment. The said standards are at an elevation slightly 'below the table top. The standards 28, 30, 32 and 34 are disposed adjacent the first mentioned group of standards but are at a lower elevation. Entrained around rollers 36 carried by the standards in the first named group and around rollers 38 carried by the standards in the second named group is a conveyor, as the endless belt 40. Each of the rollers is mounted on conventional anti-friction bearings 42 for ease of operation of the conveyor belt 40.

A motor 44 is carried by a suitable platform 46 and has the belt 40 entrained around a pulley which is operated by the motor. Accordingly, upon operation of the motor 44, the upper part of the conveyor belt 40 which is carried by the rollers 36 is operated simultaneously with the operation of the lower part or portion of the conveyor belt 40 which is carried on the rollers of the shorter standards. The conveyor belt 40' is disposed behind and below the tops of the table I 0 and I2 for a ready access to the attendant, waiter or waitress. A utility shelf and collector 50 is secured to the end table l2 by means of a bracket 52. The top of the collector shelf is coplanar with the top of the upper portion of the endless conveyor belt 40 and is disposed at the end of the top portion whereby in the event that a plate or dish is inadvertently permitted to remain on the conveyor belt 40, it is simply urged on the collector or utility shelf 50, thereby avoiding accidental loss and breakage.

The lower part of the belt 40 is used as a means of returning soiled dishes, silverware or the like, such as glassware. Means for collecting the soiled tableware from the bottom portion is provided. This means consists of a chute 56 which has its upper end substantially coplanar with the majority of the lower part of the conveyor belt The belt is bent sharply downward at the inlet part of the chute 56 by being entrained over the panel roller or guide 58 and also around the guide or roller 60. The portion of the belt between the roller 58 and the roller 60 is disposed below the chute 56 which empties into a suitable receptacle 62. a

The roller 60 is mounted on a shaft 62 which is secured within the receptacle 64. The receptacle 64 maintains a supply of liquid so that the belt passing thereover is cleansed thereby. An abrading member such as a brush 66 is carried by one wall of the receptacle 64 and has contacting relationship with the belt 40 as it P ss through the receptacle. It is noted that wi h respect to the receptacle 64, the lower surface of the belt 40 is constantly cleansed upon operation of the motor 44. It is the bottom surface which becomes the top surface of the conveyor insofar as the upper portion or part thereof is concerned. This is the part which is used by the patron and constantly cleaned. An additional brush or abrading member may be employed in a capacity similar to the brush 66 for the purpose of cleansing the other surface of the belt 40. This is a matter of choice.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A conveyor system for a restaurant having a table top provided with a front edge defining a patrons side and a rear edge defining a service side a conveyor disposed partially underneath and partially laterally spaced from the Service side of the table top, a bottom member and a top member forming a part of said conveyor, means operatively connected with the bottom member for collecting tableware therefrom, said means including a chute having its upper end substantially 4 coplanar with the conveyor bottom member, a guide roller supporting said bottom member adjacent the upper end of said chute, a guide spaced from said roller and disposed below said roller having said conveyor bottom member extending therearound so as to pull the bottom member below said chute, and a liquid receptacle disposed below said chute, said guide being disposed in said receptacle, said guide holding a part ofsaid conveyor in said receptacle to cleanse said 00 veyor after the tableware has been directed into said chute.

JON QiYVIND SLYNGSTALI.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 416,704 Holland Dec. -3, 1889 764,435 Donaldson et al. July 5, 1904 863,590 Cowley Aug. 20, 1907 1,093,815 Whittier Apr. 21, 1914 1,949,468 Hackett Mar. 6, 1934 

